May 31, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 26, Issue 19
who police the police? “Addressing Current & Historical Realties Affecting Our Community”
THE “N-WORD”
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
The late-great comedian and activist Paul Mooney said, “the Black man in America is the most copied man on this planet, bar none. Everybody wants to be a nigger, but nobody wants to be a nigger.” He’s damn right. We Black people know this all too well. And even though the Black man is the “most copied” man in the world, he is also the “most disrespected,” and it starts with one damn word. The “politically correct” reference these days is to say “N-word,” but everyone knows they say it loud and proud as often as they can – NIGGER – a word White Supremacist racists derived from a word originally used to classify our race – NEGRO. Negro is not an ugly word, but because of the way that racists have turned it into a negative, Black folks have been moving away from it so
much that we have gotten confused with who the hell we are. We were once Africans, then we were Negroes, then we were colored, then Black, then African Americans, and I think – since they claim our LIVES MATTER – we are now Black again. And what about the “negro?” Well, some people want to remove the word altogether, just to remove the negative “nigger” associated with it. Can you believe, there are still plenty of public places that bear the name, starting right here in the Lone Star State. The word “Negro” appears in dozens of places across Texas. Although the Texas Legislature passed a law three decades earlier that would rename the locations after prominent Black Americans, it was blocked by the U.S. Board for Geographic Names. The N-Word cont’d page 3
HONORING GEORGE FLOYD
By: Nevaeh Richardson
On May 25, 2020, the world watched as George Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd’s death sparked world-wide protest against police brutality and white supremacy. Houston is paying tribute to Floyd, the longtime resident, with a new park memorial on the corner of Alabama and Napoleon in Greater Third Ward. The owner of the land, Gertrude Stone, dedicated the park to Floyd. The memorial is right across from the “Black Lives Matter” mural at Jack Yates Senior High School, where Floyd attended. “This park is for the community,” said organizer Jack Floyd cont’d Stone. “This park and the efpage 7
“OUR VOTE AND OUR MONEY ARE THE TWO MOST POWERFUL THINGS WE HAVE. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE THEM TO.” - ROY DOUGLAS MALONSON
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May 31, 2021
EDITORIAL
President/Chief Editor
Tristar
Griselda Ramirez: Production
Partin’ the Waters By Omowale Luthuli-Allen
Office: (713) 692-1892 Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Venting!! House Bill 1927 On yesterday, I spoke with the Texas Senate Secretary. She politely told me that the Bill to eliminate permits to carry firearms in Texas by anyone 21 years and older had advanced to the governor’s office. She was unable to tell me the nature of the amendments attached by the conference committee. She implied that the governor would probably sign the looming train wreck driven by a party that was becoming unhinged. This legislation was driven by a party that would be competitive in Texas because of too many Anglo citizens that were dinosaurs, sponges, and adherents to the lost cause. President Barack Obama won twice, and President Biden defeated “45” by more than seven million votes. These far-right conservatives have doubled down on the religion of white su-
premacy and creation of ethnic states and zones to hold their power and privilege. Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven out of eight past national elections are poised to be steamrolled in 2024. When this happens, we will see how the alligator behaves when the lake goes dry. Bill 1927 is the result of localized diseased cells metastasizing and going rogue throughout the body politic. Bill 1927 should drive community builder’s apoplectic because of the already existing unacceptable level of firearm violence and trauma to children and families. As Denise Lasalle says, “we ought to be mad as hell.” I don’t have the privilege of speaking to you in the vernacular, so let’s stay kosher. For example, a major longitudinal study released three years ago said that much of black America in Houston, especially Sunnyside was dying of a death by a thousand cuts. Over an eight-year span, 50 random and senseless gun violence deaths. Predominantly, these
Bill cont’d page 5
A Revival of God
Consciousness Bobby E. Mills, PhD
Where Is America’s God Conscience? The U. S. Constitution is a God Conscience oriented governing document. However, America has never been able to fully actualize the moral tenets of the document in our spiritual hearts, conscience and democratic-political governance practices. America has perpetually and spiritually been engaged in an Ethnic Exclusion War, because there are too many White Americans who do not believe: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” God told Jeremiah: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee...” This spiritual declaration is true of every human being on planet earth. We are children of God; even
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
though, we do not act like it. However, all individuals have a God conscience; which in turn, must be nurtured by God-fearing parents in a truth oriented household. Institutional Churches must fortify a spiritual Godconscience grounded in Spirit and Truth. Institutions of educational development must always teach and example TRUTH in order that our children will always speak truth to power. Who, but our children are our future. Death is a constant reminder that individuals are godlike; but not God, because: “As it is appointed unto men to die, but after this the judgment.” Because: “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” God-fearing Americans, know this: “The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.” If there are any, whatsoever doubts just ask former President Trump)? All evil things will eventually come to light: This is why we must teach our children at all times to walk in the spiritual light of truth and justice for all, and therefore, every American can live by the Golden
Rule: “Do unto Others as you would have them do to you.” Christian Right Evangelicals are the primary culprits in creating confusion in God’s church, because they desire that the church perpetuate White Privilege. Know this: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The church is the bride of Jesus Christ, not the bride of White Privilege! We are making clowns and clones of Christianity rather than disciples of the conquering King: JESUS. The new norm is being set by pastoral leaders and is based upon desires of the flesh, and ungodly doctrines. Consequently, we live in the shadows of Christianity rather than the eternal light of God which was present in Jesus Christ. America, the magnitude of God’s love was expressed in JESUS. Therefore, we should experience the joy of harmonious relationships regardless of skin color or ethnicity, because: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133: 1). Selah. - AANI
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION reasoning given was that there was a lack of support for renaming these places and lack of opposition for the current names. Many of the bill’s supporters were unaware that the legislation had no effect. Rodney Ellis, Harris County Commissioner and former state lawmaker that supported the bill in 1991, said that he did not know the name changes hadn’t been made until he was contacted by NPR last year. Ellis began reaching out to other state agencies. Lawmakers drafted the Senate Concurrent Resolution
N-Word cont’d
May 31, 2021 derogatory term. There’s even a small community named Nigton in northeastern Trinity County. The Nigton community was founded by freed enslaved African Americans where many stayed close to their old plantations to sharecrop or own their own farms and ranches. The community began to thrive from agriculture and civic landscape in the 1880s. Nigton was known for its well-planned farms, cattle, produce, and high standard of living. Education was prominent in Nigton and in 1988, land was donated to form the Pine Island School which served elementary to
AFRAMNEWS.COM 3
VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas
NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGES Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, TX (METRO), will hold a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 12 p.m. The Board invites the public to comment on its proposed August 2021 changes to METRO service. This public hearing will be held by telephone and video conference call on the Zoom virtual meeting platform. The public may join the virtual hearing via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87455341414 or by dialing: 346-248-7799 or 888-475-4499 (Toll Free), Meeting ID: 874-5534-1414. Participation on Zoom is only necessary if you want to provide comments during the public hearing. Otherwise, you may view a livestream of the virtual hearing online at https://www.RideMETRO.org/Pages/BoardStreamingVideo.aspx. A video recording of the hearing will also be archived on www.RideMETRO.org. The proposed August service changes include: Implementation of the Gulfton Circulator; Schedule Changes to Routes 2, 3, 5, 9, 23, 25, 30, 36, 38, 39, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 56, 58, 59, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, 72, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 82, 83, 84, 87, 97, 98,102, 108, 151, and all Downtown Park & Ride corridors, and METRORail Red, Green, and Purple lines. METRO will continue to make temporary schedule adjustments in response to social distancing and workforce availability. Copies of proposed route maps and available timetables will be made available beginning on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, for public review on-line, and in the lobby of the METRO RideStore in the Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building (located at 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002).
HOW TO COMMENT ABOUT THE SERVICE CHANGES It is recommended that anyone wanting to make public comments, register as a public speaker with METRO’s Board Office at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing, by calling 713-739-4834 or sending an email to boardoffice@RideMETRO.org, and providing their name, address and telephone number. If you pre-register, your comments will be heard first at the public hearing. Your name will be called at the appropriate time for you to make your comments. Alternatively, you may provide public comments after the pre-registered speakers by selecting the “Raise Hand” feature on the Zoom platform online or by pressing *9, if joining by telephone. Those calling in will automatically be placed on mute. After an unregistered speaker’s name or number is recognized, their microphone will be unmuted, and they will be able to provide their comments.
29, a display of the unity between Texas lawmakers to challenge the Board of Geographic names to take action. “The perpetuation of racially offensive language is a stain on the Lone Star State, and it is vital that the names of these geographic features be changed in order to reflect and honor the diversity of the population,” Sen. Borris Miles, wrote in the resolution. “The word Negro is derivative of [the N word], which is a very offensive word to people of color,” he said. There are at least 25 places in Texas that contain the word “Negro” in its name, not including places with the Spanish word for “Negro.” “Negrohead,” “Negro Hollow,” and “Negro Creek” are just a few examples of places that use the
high school students. “Despite efforts to change these names, our processes and systems have failed,” Ellis told the U.S. geographic board during a virtual meeting on May 13. “These names have stood, even as the times have changed… We cannot take a passive approach and let the localities wait until they can find a replacement name, [it] is unacceptable. During this moment of racial reckoning in our nation,” he added, “we must take concrete action to ensure that these offensive, racist names are finally erased from the public domain.” While we are not ashamed of the word NEGRO – we agree it is long overdue to rename the places that have the word because we all know what they really want to call us. - AANI
You may also provide comments by: • Writing to us at METRO, ATTN: August 2021 Service Change, 1900 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002; • Faxing comments with a subject line referencing "August 2021 Service Change" to (713) 652-7956; • Calling METRO's Customer Service at (713) 635-4000; • Submitting comments on METRO's website – www.RideMETRO.org. All comments should be submitted to METRO by 12 noon on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.
HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES For individuals with disabilities, assistive services or copies of public documents in an alternate format can be provided. Individuals with impairments may call (713) 750-4271 a minimum of five (5) working days prior to the public hearing.
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE Upon request, METRO provides free language assistance to help patrons who have a limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English in accordance with its language assistance plan. Request for language assistance and other accommodations should be directed to the Board Office at 713-739-4018, or via e-mail at METROPublicAffairs@RideMETRO.org at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.
OTHER 1. This Public Hearing conforms to requirements described in the Federal Transit Administration's Circular 9030.1E, published January 16, 2014, page VI-7. 2. METRO does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or in treatment or employment in, its services, programs, and activities. 3. METRO is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its transit services on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
RideMETRO.org • 713.635.4000
4 AFRAMNEWS.COM
May 31, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
SPORTS
HALL OF FAMER AND CIVIL RIGHTS ICON
By: N.L. Preston
Give them their flowers while they are alive, and as often as you can, especially when it comes to someone like Bill Russell. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has made Russell one of its headlining Class of 2021 inductees, and his civil rights legacy will also be at the top of his many accolades. Russell has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1974 and is now entering as a coach. B oth are well-deser ved. Russell was the foundation of the Boston Celtics’ rule in the 1960s. He is a fivetime NBA Most Valuable Player and a 12-time AllStar with 21,620 career rebounds. Russell was known by many as the greatest basketball player of all time until the rise of Michael Jordan in the 1980s. William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. He moved to San Francisco and attended McClymonds High School in Oakland. Though he was an average player at McClymonds, he earned a scholarship to the University of San Francisco due to his size. Russell, standing slightly over 6-feet-9, thrived at the University of San Francisco, where he led Dons to 56
consecutive wins and NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. In 1955, Russell was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Celtics coach and general manager, Red Auerbach traded with the St. Louis Hawks to get Russell on his team. Russell was a dominant force on defense and rebounds, which the Celtics desperately needed. In a league where the w i n n i n g depended on offensive strategies, Russell changed professional basketball with his defensive prowess. He intimidated players with blocked shots and proved that it didn’t take a shooter to win a game. Russell revolutionized the way the game was played and led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA championships. Auerbach retired after another championship in the 1965-66 season, and Russell became the playercoach for the following season. It was then that he became the first African American coach in the league. After the Celtics
Russell cont’d page 5
BILL RUSSELL
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
May 31, 2021
deaths were young black men and boys of color. Gun violence leaves trauma as its offspring. Little penetration holes in the front, big exit holes in the back from bullets that have no names. Emotional scar tissue that refuses to heal plagues violence ridden communities and there is a palpable fear. In Sunnyside, some residents have pit bulls on their doorstep, some have posted signs with a picture of a big caliber firearm that say, “WE DON’T CALL 911!” Funeral homes have worked with activists to stop the violence. There is not a mass community healing mechanism since the demise of the Martin Luther King “Stop the Violence Workshop and Rally.” Late activist Billy Reece said, “there is nothing so dangerous as unresolved trauma.” Senate 1927 was crafted by a University of Texas trained physician-
legislator, Rep. Charles Schwertner, whose base is in high income Georgetown, Texas. Georgetown has very little gun violence victims. Beloved Rep. Harold Dutton was one of seven Democrats to sign on for this measure while in House. We spoke to Rep. Dutton on be-
impact on the streets and neighborhoods. Straw men, older men will often buy guns for younger ineligible teenagers and escalate the beefs that lead to shootings and retaliations. Rappers who conned America out of a ton of dollars by crafting lyrics of “kill the suckers”
half of the anti-gun violence coalition, and we are hoping that he will jump off this legislation. Flawed social policy has a direct
will vacation in Cancun with Corona cervezas and “honeys” while the band plays on and Dead On Arrival tags are stapled on big toes
won their 11th championship, Russell retired and resurfaced as a coach for other NBA teams. While Russell revolutionized basketball, his greatest impact is his fight for racial justice in America throughout his playing career. Russell was a star in the NBA during the era of Jim Crow - laws designed to marginalize African Americans by denying them education, the right to vote and employment. In 1961, Russell led a player
protest refusing to play after several Black players on the Boston Celtics were refused service at the Phoenix Hotel coffee shop in Lexington, Kentucky, while they were in town to play the St. Louis Hawks. Russell convinced the Black players on the Hawks and Celtics team to protest. In 1963, Russell stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King in the March on Washington and in 1967, he joined NFL stars Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell, Lew Alcindor (now Kareem AbdulJabbar) and others in support of Muhammad Ali’s refusal to be
drafted for the Vietnam war. “It is the first time in four centuries that the American Negro can create his own history,” Russell wrote in the 1960s. “To be part of this is one of the most significant things that can happen.” Today, Black athletes credit Russell with giving them courage to stand for social justice. “Because of you, it is okay to be an activist and an athlete,” Celtics guard Jaylen Brown said in a recent tribute video to Russell. “Because of you, kids that look like you believe that they can win.
Bill cont’d
Russell cont’d
AFRAMNEWS.COM 5 of little boys and little men. I had to go to the morgue with my sister to identify and claim her son’s corpse. Death from gratuitous violence is not pretty. Shotgun holes in his body tore into our psyches and pierced our damaged hearts. We ought to be mad as hell as the specter of random South Side Chicago violent weekends and holidays loom for the “city that will decide America’s future,” according to the PEW Trust. Admittedly, more that gun accessibility exists as a predictor of community fratricide. Joblessness, Education, Affordable Housing, Weak families and Strength of civil society institutions play a mighty role in the protection and promotion of human life in vulnerable communities. Power is the ability to gain, maintain and use community resources to control the destiny of your community and families. The exercise of power allows you to define a
Bill cont’d page 6
Because of you, there is a standard for being a human being and being an athlete. Because of you, it is okay to be more than just a basketball player. Because of you, I am proud to be a Celtic.” Another shining achievement came in 2011 when former U.S. President Barack Obama awarded Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, describing him as “someone who stood up for the rights and dignity of all men.” -AANI
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Bill cont’d phenomenon and then make it act in a desired manner. This means that communities must get a rapid notification of threatening legislation and rapidly mobilize our communities and allies to crush or modify these enemy forces. Our elected representatives must do the will of the people and bring us receipts-progressive policy that affirms the humanity of Black lives. Let me apologize for using the term “enemy,” but those people are not our friends even if we smile and shake hands with them. Our formula must be to be flexible with our friends, but firm with our enemies. And because the stakes are so high, we must be uncompromising with ourselves. Let me apologize if I have conveyed that Sunnyside and other vulnerable commu-
nities are unlivable, for there are verdant zones where there is productive living with vibrant – high achieving families and institutions. Let me note that the historic high school in Sunnyside - Worthing is on the mend and producing busloads of talented students. I would like to look at the threat that Black and poor people are facing from House Bill 1927 and conclude that we have bigger fish to fry. But we don’t. Tomorrow morning, when we go to the drug or grocery store, we must adjust our awareness that the consumer in front of you or behind you is packing. Figure that the disrespectful motorist that threw the “I love you back” finger at you is packing. Los Angelesstyle road rage is here in H-TOWN and Texas cities, big and small. 1927 is evil, sinful and vicious. It was not ordained by God. 1927 caught most of us sleeping. We are in a third reconstruction. As Bun B says, this reconstruction was ignited by the biggest civil rights struggle in history -BLM. Now, each one of us must get busy by joining a fighting organization and change our communities and the world. -AANI
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION worked,” said Adrian Garcia, Harris County Commissioner Pct 2. forts behind it aim to “In one of the most ensure that nothing important cases in our like what has brought nation’s history, the us here today; what justice system did exhappened on May actly what we expect25th of last year ever ed it to do.” happens again.” Harris County DisHouston leaders and trict Attorney Kim the Stone family held a Ogg also weighed dedication ceremony in, saying, “George to reflect the life and Floyd now is the hulegacy of Floyd, and to man symbol for racial also celebrate the his- equality in America. torical “guilty” murder And how our justice charge for Chauvin. system treats people “George Floyd’s death like Mr. Floyd is imcame with a lot of tur- portant.” moil, but at the end of LaTonya Floyd, the day, his death has George Floyd’s sister, brought some degree was present at the cerof calm and tranquil- emony on Sunday, and ity because the jus- the family went to the tice system ultimately White House to meet Floyd cont’d
May 31, 2021 with President Joe Biden on the anniversary of Floyd’s death. “I always say one of the greatest days of my life was when the bill was passed in Washington -- the no chokehold bill was passed,” said LaTonya Floyd. “And here we
AFRAMNEWS.COM 7
go again, this is great. knee off my neck!” The This is going to be a fight for justice continpark and violence is ues. -- AANI everywhere. Violence is everywhere and it must stop. And we won’t stop fighting until it does.” “Take your
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